DEAKIN LAW SCHOOL
JURIS DOCTOR
Cloud learning
The Deakin Law School’s Juris Doctor program is exceptional. Whether your academic background is in an arts discipline, commerce, or the sciences, our excellence in practical and commercially focused legal education will arm you with a credential designed to maximise your success in the global employment market. It is important for you to understand why the Deakin JD is your best choice. First, we designed the JD to offer a commercial focus – in addition to educating you in areas necessary for obtaining professional recognition – because commercial expertise is in demand and we recognise that your education is a significant investment. Second, we will develop your skills in advocacy, reasoning, analysis, and communication, because these are necessary for you to become a leader in a variety of careers in law, media, regulatory agencies, NGOs, international organisations, business, government departments, and consulting firms. Crucially, in addition to equipping you with disciplinary knowledge, the Deakin JD program develops advanced understanding of the policy rationales for legal rules. Reflecting the graduate nature of the program, this development ensures students become advocates and creative problem-solvers, applying a diverse mix of rules and helping to design optimal policies for systemic reform. Deakin is well placed to develop these capabilities because of the excellence of our academic staff who publish research in the world’s leading journals and are participants in law reform endeavours. The Deakin Juris Doctor offers prestige and outstanding career opportunities. The disciplinary knowledge, thinking, analytical, and communication skills together will equip graduates to become leaders in an array of esteemed careers.
Deakin offers an exciting intellectual community for the study of law. I hope you will join us.
WELCOME
FROM PROFESSOR SANDEEP GOPALAN
Deakin Law School’s Juris Doctor (JD) is a
prestigious postgraduate law program that
can lead you to a first-class law career.
Designed for non-law graduates, this intellectually-stimulating course is offered fully online after an initial three-day orientation program. Delivered through Deakin’s sophisticated online learning platform, CloudDeakin, it ensures your learning experience is personalised, engaging and flexible. With its strong practical and commercial focus, the Deakin JD delivers real-world legal skills with an in-depth knowledge of the policies and processes that inform the law. You will be taught by Deakin Law School academics who are recognised in Australia and overseas, for their expertise in legal education and research.
As a Deakin law student, you will be part of an award-winning centre of excellence. In the prestigious QS World University Rankings, Deakin Law School is ranked as one of Victoria’s top law schools.
At the completion of the JD program, you will have the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria and a postgraduate qualification that offers you outstanding career opportunities.
These include opportunities from roles within large multi-national organisations to small local law practices. You will also be eligible for other industry roles within business (corporate lawyer, company administrator or business manager); government (Attorney General’s Department, Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Australian Securities Commission); industrial relations; public administration; academia, or law reform organisations. The Deakin JD is a stand-alone qualification that provides you with the knowledge, skills and opportunities for a rewarding profession within the legal, government, corporate or community sectors.
THE DEAKIN
Deakin Law School is a recognised
and respected community of researchers,
academics and students.
In the prestigious QS World University Rankings, Deakin is ranked as one of Victoria’s top law schools. It has twice taken out one of the world’s most prestigious law student competitions – the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot – conducted each year in Vienna. A centre for excellence in commercial law, Deakin Law School’s focus supports a diverse range of study and research areas including intellectual property; corporate governance; tort and the law of medicine; sentencing and criminal justice; energy and natural resource law, and constitutional law. The quality and calibre of this research is presented regularly at conferences, workshops and symposia.
Deakin Law School also accommodates a unique research centre – the Centre for Rural Regional Law and Justice (CRRLJ) – which provides Deakin staff with the opportunity for activity within a formal research grouping. The aim of the CRRLJ is to enhance access to improved justice systems and services through research, education, engagement and advocacy. It also provides a range of state-wide learning and development forums by experts in the fields of youth law, employment law, food security, governance for NGOs and cyber safety. Deakin Law School facilitates research excellence across industry, society, policy and legislation which further serve to inform a contemporary and highly-relevant curriculum.
DEAKIN
COURSE
OVERVIEW
The Deakin JD is an innovative and inspiring
program designed for non-law graduates.
Highly-structured, this three-yearfull-time (or part-time equivalent) course consists of 24 compulsory online units which deliver a premium postgraduate law degree with outstanding career opportunities. Following a three-day on-campus orientation program, the Deakin JD is a fully-online course. With 24/7 online access to resources and academic and peer support, you will also have the option of face-to-face consultations and on-campus revision sessions. One of the program’s distinctive features is its focus on commercial law. While incorporating diverse topics that cater for a wide range of interests, this orientation is shaped by the inclusion of units that exceed those required for admission to legal practice.
Each unit in the JD has an emphasis on policy. This aims to develop higher-level critical skills and the ability to interpret the purpose and merit of the law. You will use legal theory and research methods to investigate policy issues and reforms, and assessment will include research essays that focus on current policy issues.
The course’s practical orientation is highlighted by its unique capstone unit ‘Advanced Legal Professional Practice’ where you will undertake experiential learning about the science of persuasion and learn the skills and strategies of practical problem solving.
Practical assessments in this unit may include oral bail application and court submissions; procedural rules; memorandum of advice preparation; mock client interviews and negotiations, and a moot court submission. Group assignments staggered throughout the program, will develop your skills in communication and collaboration.
JD DIRECTOR
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JULIE CLARKE
‘Deakin’s new Juris Doctor has been designed for graduates who desire the flexibility of studying where and when they desire. It provides the academic training necessary for admission to the legal profession in Australia and its first rate online learning environment equips graduates with the skills necessary to pursue a broad range of careers in law, business or government.’
COURSE
CONTENT
The Deakin JD is a highly-structured program
that features 24 compulsory units covering
a diverse range of interests including the
critically-important fields of workplace law,
intellectual property, competition law and
policy, and family law.
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3
Legal Method and Statutory Interpretation Contract Law and Policy Criminal Law and Policy Torts and Policy
Commercial Law and Policy Law and Policy of Misleading Conduct and Product Liability Criminal Procedure and Policy Civil Procedure, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Policy
Constitutional Law and Policy Administrative Law and Policy Property Law and Policy Family Law and Policy Evidence Law and Policy Workplace Law and Policy Corporate Law and Policy Land Law and Policy
Trusts and Equitable Remedies Competition Law and Policy Intellectual Property and Policy Legal Practice, Ethics and Policy Advanced Legal Professional Practice International Commercial Law and Policy Taxation Law and Policy
ONLINE
LEARNING
The Deakin JD is delivered as a premium online
course supported by the university’s innovative
e-learning platform CloudDeakin which enables
you to enjoy a fully-immersive learning experience.
After a compulsory three-day orientation program at our Melbourne City Campus, the Deakin JD is delivered in a unique learning space that is flexible, accessible and tailor-made for your study requirements. CloudDeakin is a sophisticated and streamlined learning environment that provides you with a highly-visual, media-rich and interactive learning experience. It’s engaging, inspiring and personalised.
Through CloudDeakin, each of your Deakin JD units is delivered via digital study guides, online lectures, live tutorials, self-assessment tests, and supported by an array of video and audio content.
Utilising new and emerging technologies, CloudDeakin ensures all your study resources are available in a wide range of accessible formats.
In addition to the course’s digital resources, you will ‘meet’ your lecturers online who will ensure you understand the program’s study expectations and its learning outcomes and assessment requirements. Within the CloudDeakin environment you will also be able to participate in real-time discussions with your peers and the JD teaching staff. Additionally, you will have access to an in-depth range of digital legal resources such as eBooks and electronic law databases that complement Deakin’s
extensive law libraries on its Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool campuses. Throughout the JD program there are options for on-campus face-to-face consultations and revision workshops, and the Deakin JD staff are available via phone, email or online.
CloudDeakin ensures that as a Deakin JD student you are part of a vibrant ‘campus’ life that keeps you connected, engaged and supported throughout the program.
KATHY BEDFORD
DEAKIN LAW GRADUATE AND TRAINEE LAWYER MAURICE BLACKBURN LAWYERS
‘I loved my job but I was ready for a new challenge. I have always lived by the belief that I didn’t want to be one of those people stuck in the same job long after the challenge and joy had disappeared.’
‘I am proud of Deakin for making university study possible for people in rural and regional areas. Just because you aren’t close to a big city campus doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the same opportunities. Deakin’s brilliant off-campus program enabled me to continue working full-time and caring for my young family while studying.’
‘Many an interesting debate unfolded in the CloudDeakin chat forums. The provision of online/cloud facilities at Deakin is world class. I could study my law degree when and how I wanted, knowing that support was always just the click of a mouse away when I needed it.’
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
Deakin aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater.More information.
FEES
The Deakin JD is a full fee-paying course. Tuition fees for 2016 (full-time enrolment) are: $33,960* per annum
for domestic students $36,000* per annum
for international students
* Rates shown are based on one Equivalent
Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL) or 8 credit points. If you undertake more or fewer credit
points of study, your fees will be adjusted based on your study load.
Commonwealth Supported Places are not available for this course, however, you may be eligible for FEE-HELP. FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists eligible higher education students, enrolled in fee paying places, to pay their tuition fees. More information
SCHOLARSHIPS
Details of scholarships for 2016 will be available soon. Detailed information, including eligibility, how to apply and opening/closing dates will be available
here.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS - SPECIFIC
• bachelor’s degree in a different discipline with minimum WAM of 65%; or • bachelor’s degree in a different discipline with minimum WAM of 60% and
three years relevant work experience; or • master’s degree in a different discipline.
DEAKIN JD
INFORMATION
SESSION
15 September 2015
6.30-7.30 pm
Melbourne City Centre Level 3/550 Bourke Street Melbourne DEAKIN JD
ORIENTATION
PROGRAM
(COMPULSORY)
25-27 February 2016
MelbournePublished by Deakin University in July 2015. While the information published in this guide was accurate at the
deakin.edu.au/jd
CONTACT US
For further information, please visit the JD website at
deakin.edu.au/jd
For enquiries about the Juris Doctor please contact: Email buslaw@deakin.edu.au
